Improvement in steam-pumps



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JACOB MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ERNST PRUSSING. e

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,952, dated August 23, 1864; autedated February 15, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN JACOB MILLER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Steam-Pump; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in Which- Figure lis a top view of my improved pump.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same at m 00,'

Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

The subject of my present invention is an automatic steam -pump in which the steam acts directly upon the surface of the liquid in the pump-cylinder without the intervention of a piston, and is afterward condensed to cause or permit the reilling of the cylinder with liquid.

'Ihe invention particularly relates, first, to devices employed to operate the steam and water valves; second, to devices employed to protect the steam from condensation by contact With the water.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is a steam-cylinder.

B is avertical shaft, resting in a step, C, and journaled at top in a stuffing-box, C.

b is a deep spiral groove, running nearly from end to end of the shaft B.

D is a perforated concave plate, secured to the shaft B near the top ofthe cylinder A.

- E is a hollow metaliioat, fitted to work loosely upon. the shaft B. The float E is provided with one or more pins or dan ges, c, which work in guides e on the side of the cylinder, so as to prevent the rotation of the said iioat as it rises and falls.

Fis an anti-friction roller, pivoted in a lug, f, on the oat, and engagingin the spiral groove b, soas to impart a rotary motion to the shaft by the vertical motion of the loat.

Gr G' Gr2 are a series of metal plates, secured at some distance apart beneath the float E. The upper and lower plates, Gr G2, may nearly iit the internal diameter of the cylinder and have apertures of considerable size in their centers, as shown, while the center plate, G,

may be of smaller diameter than the others, but tit more closely to the shaft B, soA that watercannot pass from above to beneath theplates, or vice versa, without traversing their entire surface. The shaft B carries at top a pinion, b', which gears with a cog-wheel, H, secured to a drum, I, which is journaled upon a standard, i, on the top ofthe cylinder. Ihe drum I has upon its periphery a number of cans, 1 2 3 4, which act upon rollers) k, projecting from levers J K, so as to operate the steam and water valves L M in the manner hereinafter to be explained. The said cams are attached to rings fi', secured to the drum I in any suitable position by means of set-screws 5, so as to regulate the length of stroke as may be needful.

lm are the valve-chests in which the valves LM work. The said valve-chests communicate with the interior of the cylinder. The valvecliest l is supplied with steam through a port, l.

O is the induction water-way guarded by valves o. P is theind uction water-way guarded by valve p.

S is the chest of the induction and eduction water-valves. Fig. l shows the segmental form adopted for the said water valve-chest and water-ways in the present illustration. They may, if preferred, be located beneath the cylinder, or in any other suitable position and form, and in any case the valves will be constructed and arranged in any number and inanner which may be found desirable.

Q is apipe connecting the exit water-way I with the valve-chest m. The said pipe is provided with a regulating-cock, q.

R is a jacket or closed air-chamber to protect the steam within the chamber from too rapid condensation by radiation of heat.

The operation is as follows: The cylinder being lled with water, and the float consequently in its upper position, steam enters through the valve L, and, pressing upon the surface of the water, forces it downward andl outward through the ednction-way l? till the cylinder is nearly depleted. The Heat E, descending by its own weight, imparts rotation to the shaft B, which, through the pinion b', is communicated to the wheel A, and thereby to the drum I. As the float approaches its lowest portion the cani 3, passing` over the roller k, opens the valve M, which is almost immediately closed by the cam 4. The opening of the said valve causes a quantity of cold water to be injected on top of the plate D, which water, byreason ot' the perforation and rotation of the said plate, is distributed in a fine shower upon the steam within the cylinder, effecting the instantaneous condensation of the said steam. The partial vacuum thus produced within the cylinder causesit to be againfilled with Water through the induction-way O by atmospheric pressure, and the float E, rising by its own buoyancy, rotates the shaft B in a reverse direction which, as the tloat approaches its highest position, opens and closesthe steamvalve L by means of the cams l 2, rollerj, and lever J, admitting a sufcientquantity ofsteam to again expel the Water within the cylinder through the exit-way P, as before explained.

1t' the pressure of steam be found too great, the rams l and 2 are by means of the set-screw 5 secured at a less distance apart, so as to hold the steam-valve L open a shorter time, or, it' the pressure be too light, the'said cams are set farther apart. In like manner the cams3 and 4 are adjusted at such a distance apart that the valve M will be kept open just long enough to admit sufficient water to effect the condensation of the steam. A heavy rim, d,

applied to the perforated plate D near its edge, operates as a lily-wheel to equalize the motion ofthe cams, and cause them to act with sulcient force upon the valves.

The valves shown in the present illustration are such as described in myapplication ot' even date herewith for Letters Patent for au improvement in valves. Other forms of valves may,however, beemployed,the mechanism for operating the valves being suitably adapted thereto.

The plates G G G2 in a measure confine the upper stratum of water, so that that heated by contact with the steam shall not mingle AI claim therein as new, and desire to secure by 1. The combination ofthe loat E and rotary shaft B, operating, substantiallyin the manner explained, to open and close the steam or water ports of the cylinder A, as explained.

2. The perforated and rotating plate D, employed in the described combination, with theshaft B and float E, to distribute the eenden ing-water, as explained.

. The plates G G i2, employed in the described combination, with the iioat E, to prevent the mingling ofthe heated with the fresh water, as explained.

4. rlhe use of a stratum of fatty matter employed in a steam-pump, operating,substan tially as above described, to prevent injurious contact between the steam and water, as set forth.

5. The manner of regulating` the length of stroke by adjusting the cams l 2 3 et, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the cylinderA, spiral shaft B b, perforated plate D, iioat E, plates G G G2, and valves L M, all constructed, ar-

ranged, and operating substantially as andV for the'purposes set forth.

JOHN JACOB MILLER.

XVitnesses:

J oHN G. SnoRTALL,` HENRY FULLER. 

